Effect of reinforcement spacing on the performance of bridge abutment by scaled model test

Abstract

Recently, construction of GRS (Geosynthetic reinforced soil) structures with closely spaced layers of geosynthetic reinforcement has been increased significantly. In order to achieve direct comparison between GRS structures and the conventional mechanically stabilized earth structures using geosynthetic (GMSE) under the same working condition, three model tests with a bridge abutment as a prototype were designed in this research. Under the vertical load of 100 kPa in simulating the weight of the bridge deck, important parameters such as stresses and deformations of the model abutment were measured, and the effect of reinforcement spacing on the performance of different reinforced soil structures was evaluated. According the test results, the overall better performance of GRS abutment was proved in terms of measured strains and stresses. In addition, comparisons were made between the measurements and the analytical predictions following solutions available in literature, and the accuracy as well as limitations of different calculation methods was discussed.